Flavonoids from the stems and leaves of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, an
antioxidant, markedly improve memory impairments and neuronal
injuries. In the present study, primary cortical neurons of rats were exposed to
potassium cyanide to establish a model of in vitro neural cell apoptosis. Inhibition of apoptosis by
flavonoids from the stems and leaves of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi at concentrations of 18.98, 37.36, and 75.92 μg/mL was detected using this model. These
flavonoids dramatically increased cell survival, inhibited cell apoptosis and excessive production of
malondialdehyde, and increased the activities of
superoxide dismutase,
glutathione peroxidase, and Na(+)-K(+)-
ATPase in primary cortical neurons exposed to
potassium cyanide. The
flavonoids from the stems and leaves of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi were originally found to have a polyhydric structure and to protect against
cerebral hypoxia in in vitro and in vivo models, including
hypoxia induced by
potassium cyanide or
cerebral ischemia. The present study suggests that
flavonoids from the stems and leaves of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi exert
neuroprotective effects via modulation of oxidative stress, such as
malondialdehyde,
superoxide dismutase,
glutathione peroxidase and Na(+)-K(+)-
ATPase disorders induced by
potassium cyanide.